The Wimbledon Championships Towel: A Design Evolution Through Decades

Every summer, for two weeks in a green corner of London, the world turns its attention to Wimbledon. The grass. The strawberries. The whites. And, year after year, the towels.

Since 1987, Christy has been the name behind one of sport's most coveted objects: the official Wimbledon Championships towel. Designed each year in our Manchester studio, it’s showcased during the most iconic moments, loved by players, thrown into crowds, and cherished by those lucky enough to hold one. Together, this makes for more than just a towel. It’s a piece of history. 

This year, the 2026 Championships towel is revealed in full, after many months of design, planning, perfecting and crafting. In this blog, we trace the evolution of the Championships towel from the very beginning, from the first rolled out on Centre Court, to the limited-edition annual design that will define this summer.

The Towel That Disappears

There is a telling detail that speaks to just how much these towels are loved. Players at Wimbledon are asked to return their towels to the club, yet still an estimated 2,500 towels leave the grounds each tournament, slipped into bags, handed to ball boys and girls, or thrown into the crowd in a moment of triumph. 

In fact, only around 15% of Wimbledon Championships towels are ever handed back during the fortnight. It is, in the most genuine sense, the highest compliment a product can receive. 

What Makes the Wimbledon Towel Special? 

Fashion-forward yet functional and perfect for sport, home, and even the beach, the Wimbledon towel is designed to perform on court and look exceptional everywhere else. Here’s what goes into it:

• The weave: Christy's signature short-looped terry construction delivers a soft, fast-drying handle, built for the rigours of a Grand Slam tournament, where players reach for a towel between almost every point.

• The cotton: Finest cotton yarn is selected for the weave, chosen for its absorbency, durability and the quality of its finish after repeated washing.

• The durability: The short loop profile creates a denser, smoother surface than a standard bath towel, meaning the design is rendered with exceptional clarity, with colours holding their depth wash after wash.

• The weight: The weight and construction make it equally at home courtside, poolside, at the beach, or in the bathroom. It’s truly a towel that transitions effortlessly from sport to everyday luxury.

4 Landmark Designs Through the Decades

Over nearly four decades, the Wimbledon towel has served as an archive of the Championships themselves, with each design documenting the moment. Here are just a few of our most memorable. 

1987

The collaboration officially began with the 1987 Championships, the first year a Christy-made towel was placed in the hands of players on the world's most famous grass courts. Those early towels were understated in their branding; the Christy name didn’t appear on the design, though our craftsmanship was present in every thread.

What those original towels established, however, was the foundation of something enduring. A design language rooted in the colours and identity of Wimbledon itself, brought to life in the Championships' deep greens and purples, recognisable as the courts they represent. And from that first edition, a tradition was set in motion.

1997

From our first towel in 1987, every year has been notable for its change in style, textile technology and flair. The 1997 Championships marked a turning point by adding the tournament date and the official Wimbledon logo as prominent design features, setting the template that would define the iconic towel format recognised today. Interestingly, this also shifted the towel to a considered object, and something worth keeping.

2001

The arrival of a new millennium brought a fresh design direction for the Championships towel, bold in pattern and iconography. Building on the recognisable logo format established in the late 1990s, the annual towel was becoming more than a tournament essential; it was emerging as a collectable keepsake that captured the spirit of each Championships.

2022

Twenty-five years later, the 2022 Championships brought another milestone. Marking the centenary of Centre Court, Christy created a design equal to the occasion. An intricate architectural plan of the court was rendered across a statement-sized large towel - a piece that felt less like sporting merchandise and more like a commemorative work. It could be folded and packed into its own fabric carry bag, ready to be taken home with the care it deserved. It’s worth noting that this carry bag has made its return for this year’s design.

The 2026 Wimbledon Towel

This year's towel is a return to the classic landscape of the Championship's most recognisable visual language. The 2026 Wimbledon towel is a heritage design in Wimbledon green, woven with purple stripes - the classic Wimbledon colours, rendered with the precision that only Christy's short-looped terry construction can achieve. At the centre, the official Championships logo sits as a confident, defining motif, balanced beautifully against the variegated stripe pattern that frames it. It’s a design that feels both timeless and entirely of this moment. 

Comforting, quick-dry, these towels are crafted for the court, the bathroom, or wherever the summer takes you. For those who prefer something a little more seasonal, the 2026 towel is also available in pink and strawberry, a nod to the most famous refreshment in SW19 and a playful addition to the collection. Each towel arrives in a drawstring bag, ready to take home or present as a gift.

Wrapping Up On The Wimbledon Championships Towel

Thirty-eight years. Thirty-eight designs. One unwavering standard. The Wimbledon towel is many things at once: a piece of sporting history, a feat of British textile craft, and in the hands of anyone fortunate enough to own one, a small but meaningful connection to one of the world's great summer rituals. Christy has been part of that ritual since 1987, and the 2026 design continues a tradition we are proud to play a part in.

The limited edition 2026 Wimbledon Championships towel is available now at christy.co.uk. Shop before the season ends.

FAQs

Can players keep Wimbledon towels?

Players are asked to return their towels to the club at the end of play. In practice, the vast majority do not. An estimated 2,500 towels leave Wimbledon each tournament, taken by players, gifted to the crowd, or kept as mementoes of a remarkable fortnight. 

What towels do they use at Wimbledon?

Wimbledon uses towels designed and made exclusively by Christy, Britain's original luxury towel makers, and the official towel partner of the Championships since 1987. Each year, a new design is created specifically for the tournament, crafted from Christy's signature short-looped terry cotton.

Why are there different coloured Wimbledon towels?

Each year's Championship towel carries its own design, and within a season, there can be variations. The 2026 edition, for instance, is available in the classic Wimbledon green with purple stripes, as well as seasonal pink and strawberry colourways. The green and purple palette reflects the official colours of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which have anchored the towel's identity since the early designs.

Where can I buy Wimbledon towels?

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships towel is available at Christy, exclusive retail partners, and from Wimbledon’s online and retail stores. As a limited-edition annual design, only a limited number are made each year.